Automobile Injury Attorney Concord, MO
Concord, MO Personal Injury Lawyers
Call 866-382-4167 for a Free Consultation | Concord, MO Automobile Injury Attorney
Automobile injury attorney in Concord, MO. The consequences of an auto accident injury are immediate and severe. If you were injured in a Concord, MO auto accident, you need an automobile injury attorney who will get you the full compensation you need to be made whole again. At Halvorsen Klote, we fight for those injured by the negligence of another when the whole world seems stacked against them. Insurance adjusters may try to cheat, but with the help of a skilled attorney, you will get the justice and financial recovery you deserve. We provide exceptional legal representation to the injured in Concord, MO, the Greater St. Louis area and Southern Illinois. You owe us no fees until we win your case. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Concord, MO today at 866-382-4167 or reach out to us online for a complimentary case evaluation.
We have experience with a number of automobile injury claims, including:
Concord, MO Automobile Injury Attorney: Frequently Asked Questions
Most people who call our office have never had to make an injury claim before, and understandably have doubts and uncertainties as to what the experience will be like. Some of the most commonly asked questions we get are:
How Do I Know if I Have a Valid Claim?
In order to have a case, your injury needs to lead to some form of financial loss, such as urgent care bills or time spent off work recovering, and there has to be another party who is at least partially at fault for the accident. If you your back hurt for a few days after the accident, but you were never medically evaluated, you're unlikely to have a successful claim. If you were the negligence party, you may not have a case either.
The good news is you don't have to make that decision alone. Halvorsen Klote's Concord, MO automobile injury attorneys are more than happy to discuss your case for free.
Is it Worth it to Hire a Lawyer for an Automobile Injury?
There are some cases where you probably don't need a lawyer. If the other party accepts liability and your medical bills are minimal — for instance, one urgent care appointment — send detailed records to the insurance company, and see if you can get a little more on top for the hassle. With milder injuries where fault is clearly established, an automobile injury attorney probably isn't necessary.
But, if your injuries are more severe, require ongoing medical treatment and result in lost wages, the insurance company is going to do whatever they can to pay you as little as possible. If the insurance company refuses to compensate you fairly, or is saying your injuries were pre-existing, then a lawyer is likely the only way you'll get what you deserve. Insurance adjusters know how to devalue claims; personal injury lawyers know how to get maximum compensation.
Other complications, such as if the other side denies liability, or if your injuries occurred in a multi-vehicle accident, also make an automobile injury attorney necessary.
What Compensation Can I Recover For My Concord, MO Automobile Injuries?
The damages you are eligible for after a car accident are meant to provide you with an equitable financial recovery for all the ways an injury affected your life. With a talented Concord, MO automobile injury attorney, you'll be compensated for:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages from time spent recovering
- Lost earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from making a living as you're used to
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as hiring transportation to and from medical appointments
- Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, or loss of consortium if your spousal relationship is negatively impacted by your injuries
How much money you get in your car accident settlement is mostly based on how your injuries have affected your life.
How Are Pain and Suffering Calculated?
There are two commonly accepted ways to calculate noneconomic damages:
- The Multiplier Method — With this method, we multiply the total of your medical bills, lost wages and out-of-pocket expenses by a number between 1.5 and 5, using higher numbers for more significant injuries.
- The Per Diem Method — "Per Diem" translates from Latin to "per day." Implementing this method, your Concord, MO automobile injury attorney assigns a dollar amount to a single day of suffering, and multiplies that by the number of days your injuries affected you. So, if we stick with the same example, say your lawyer assigned $200 a day to your injuries:
For example, you suffered a whiplash injury, leading to $15,000 in medical expenses and lost wages, and which led to physical discomfort for four months, and further disrupted you because it forced you to wear a neck brace for a week. The pain and suffering might be given a multiplier of three. So:
$15,000 in economic damages × 3 for a pain and suffering multiplier = $45,000 in final compensation
$200 × 121 days (four months) = $24,200 in noneconomic damages (in addition to your economic damages)
Your attorney will know the best way to calculate your pain and suffering damages for your individual case.
Will I Still Get Reimbursement if My Medical Insurance Covers My Medical Expenses?
Yes. The settlement or judgment is based on all of your medical expenses, regardless of whether it was paid for by insurance or out of pocket. However, your medical insurance company will place a medical lien on your compensation. That allows them to collect the money that paid for your injuries from your compensation.
There are various legal remedies to reduce medical liens. A talented Concord, MO automobile injury attorney will know best how to reduce those liens and make sure as little is taken out of your compensation as possible.
What If the Insurance Coverage is Limited?
Missouri and Illinois have nearly identical minimum auto insurance requirements:
- $25,000 minimum coverage for bodily injury per person
- $50,000 minimum coverage for bodily injury per accident
- $25,000 (Missouri)/$20,000 (Illinois) minimum coverage for property damage
While the negligent driver may have a policy with higher limits, there is still no guarantee that there's enough to cover all of your damages. That doesn't mean we can't get more compensation than the limits. First, your Concord, MO automobile injury attorney can file an underinsured motorist claim under your own policy, that can provide compensation for the rest of your damages. Secondly, in their investigation your attorney might uncover other liable parties who you can also make a claim against.
Who Else Could Be Liable for My Auto Accident Injuries in Concord, MO?
In most cases, liability is squarely on the driver responsible for the crash. However, depending on the specifics of your case, other parties may be liable:
- An auto manufacturer may may have produced a defective vehicle component, leading to a product liability claim
- If you were injured in a truck accident, the trucking company may have failed to maintain a truck, or may have forced their driver to drive more hours than allowed
- A mechanic may have improperly repaired an automobile, causing a defect that caused the crash
- A bar or restaurant if someone got drunk at their venue, drove afterwards and caused a crash
- A local, state or federal body responsible for designing and maintaining the safety of roads
- A construction company if a construction site was not properly cordoned off
What if I'm Being Blamed For My Accident?
An insurance adjuster may try to blame you for your accident in order to devalue your claim. Providing sound evidence, in addition to having an experienced automobile injury attorney fighting back against insurance companies, will demonstrate that you aren't liable.
In some car accidents, both drivers really are each partially at fault. Both Missouri Revised Statute §537.765 and 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 allow for what's called "comparative negligence." Meaning, each party pays for the percentage of fault they bear for the accident. In Illinois, you cannot make any recovery if you were more than half to blame.
What if I Was Injured as a Passenger?
If you were injured in a car that somebody else was driving, you still seek compensation from the liable driver's insurance company, even if it's someone you know. While they may have to pay a moderate amount more for insurance, that doesn't compare to the medical bills and lost wages you've suffered as a result. An automobile injury attorney will communicate with other side so you don't have to feel awkward.
Will My Claim Go to Trial?
You probably will not have to go attend hearings or a trial for your automobile injuries. The Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a study in 2005 that found that more than nine out of 10 tort claims are settled before trial.
You'll likely have to take a deposition and may have to attend a mediation, but your automobile injury attorney will make sure you're adequately prepared and will handle most of the work.
How Long Will I Have to Wait Until I'm Compensated?
That depends on a lot of things, such as the severity of your injuries, how clear negligence is and even the insurance company or adjuster we're negotiating with. A personal injury claim can take anywhere from a month to three or four years before it's resolved. Many insurance adjusters immediately agree to a settlement demand letter once they've learned that there's an attorney on the case. In other cases, they'll wait until the eve of trial to finally agree to what is fair, or there are complexities to the case that require substantial investigation and expert testimony.
Most cases reach a conclusion from anywhere between a few months to a year. While we'd obviously like to resolve your claim soon, it's always in your best interest to wait to agree to a settlement until it's the maximum compensation you're entitled to. Once you agree to a settlement, you can never go back and ask for more money later.
Is It Expensive to Hire an Automobile Injury Attorney?
Halvorsen Klote's Concord, MO automobile injury attorney are paid through a contingency fee. That means we take a percentage of your final compensation as our attorneys' fees, and there are no upfront costs. If we don't secure any compensation for you, you don't owe us anything, so there's no financial risk involved in hiring our services.
We see no reason that money should be a barrier for people who need quality legal representation to make a full financial recovery.
To learn more about automobile injury claims, check out our other FAQs, have a look at our legal resources page or call us at 866-382-4167.
Other cases we take on in Concord, MO include:
- Fatal Car Accident Lawyer
- Auto Accident Attorney
- Bike Wreck Lawyer
- What to Do After a Car Accident
- Premises Liability Attorneys
- Motorcycle Accidents Attorney
- Lawyer for Bicycle Accident
- Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
- Injury Claim Lawyer
Consult With an Automobile Injury Attorney in Concord, MO Today
We do what we do because we believe that everyone deserves the same high quality legal representation that large insurance companies have. An injury is shocking and create fear and confusion. But you don't have to go through the claims process alone. We fight back against insurance companies every day and know how to get our Concord, MO clients the best possible results. We always have open lines of communication with our clients, and do everything we can to make the claims process easy and seamless for you and your Concord, MO family. Call a Halvorsen Klote automobile injury attorney in Concord, MO today at 866-382-4167 or contact us through our website for a complimentary case evaluation.
Joel Halvorsen
Attorney at Law
Joel Halvorsen and his partner Greg Klote founded the Halvorsen Klote law firm on the principle that injured people and their families should have access to the same quality legal representation as large insurance companies.
Greg Klote
Attorney at Law
Greg Klote is a partner and founder of Halvorsen Klote.
Greg has successfully fought for people who were injured through no fault of their own. He became a lawyer to help make a difference in the lives of those who have been wronged and treated unfairly.
